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Downsview production jobs not at risk as Bombardier cuts 1,800 positions

Company looks to restructure its aerospace division, but production work at the Downsview Q400 plant are safe.

An engine is installed on a Q400 at Bombardier's manufacturing plant at Downsview. The company says production jobs at the factory will not be affected by a new round of layoffs. (Steve Russell/The Toronto Star)

Bombardier’s major corporate restructuring plans will result in 1,800 job cuts, but none will be production jobs at the Downsview facility, the company says.

“We’re aiming for a 15 per cent reduction in indirect functions across aerospace (division),” said Bombardier spokeswoman Isabelle Rondeau in an interview Thursday. “At this point, it’s much too early to say how much each site will be impacted.”

Production jobs at the Downsview plant, where the Q400 turboprop is built, will not be affected. The layoffs will be in positions such as finance, communications and administration, and Rondeau couldn’t say if any jobs in the Toronto area are on the chopping block.

These job losses are in addition to 1,700 cuts, mostly in the Montreal area, announced earlier this year as part of deep cost-cutting measures as the company struggles to launch its new CSeries plane.

In March, the company also froze salaries for about 38,000 non-union workers in its aerospace and transportation units worldwide, as well as at the head office.

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The latest job cuts are directly related to Bombardier’s decision to restructure its aerospace division into three groups: business aircraft, commercial aircraft and aerostructures and engineering, Rondeau said.

Its transportation division, which is also in the midst of a reorganization, will remain unchanged. The new structure is to take effect next year, though preparations will get underway this fall.

The CSeries program has had repeated delays and cost overruns as Bombardier tries to compete in the larger-jet market. Its test plane suffered an engine fire in May and is still waiting to get back in the air.

Despite the problems, Bombardier has insisted it is on track with the plane, garnering new orders at the Farnborough air show earlier this month. Entry into service is planned for the second half of 2015.

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